UFC 218: Eddie Alvarez Wins Instant Classic Vs. Justin Gaethje

Just as everyone predicted, Eddie Alvarez and Justin Gaethje put on an absolute clinic at UFC 218 Saturday night.

In the end, it was Alvarez securing the victory, finishing Gaethje and dealing the former World Series of Fighting lightweight champion his first career loss.

Alvarez, who was coming off a no-contest with Dustin Poirier and a defeat himself at the hands of Conor McGregor for the lightweight title, talked inside the Octagon about his performance vs. Gaethje.

Alvarez ended the night landing 162 of the 366 strikes he threw, with Gaethje connecting on 124 of 240. Alvarez, a former UFC and Bellator champion, secured the lone successful takedown and was leading on all three scorecards at the time of the stoppage.

The biggest round came in the second for Alvarez, as he out-landed Gaethje 75-51, with 73 of those strikes being considered significant.

Both Alvarez and Gaethje were transported to a local hospital following their battle in Detroit from the Little Caesars Arena.